A Helpful Tip

   Often when horsehair is given to me for jewelry making, the hair is badly stained, and of course white hair is the worst!   So for those of you who show, and want that perfectly clean white tail, I'll share with you a couple of the tricks I've learned to really get the green out, while leaving the hair undamaged and manageable.
   First the best whitening "shampoo" I've found is liquid laundry detergent. Anything that is tough on "grass" stains will work, though my preference is Tide because of its blue colour and nice smell.  After using laundry detergent on horsehair it is important to follow up with a regular shampoo and a good quality conditioner because the detergent alone will leave the hair stripped of its natural oils, making the hair unmanageable. 
    Sometimes the detergent wash is enough to leave the hair gleaming, but if not the next thing I try is plain white vinegar.  Vinegar works great because often times the reason for the stain is alkaline in the soil bonds with individual hairs giving it a "green patina".   Soaking the hair in vinegar for 10-15 minutes breaks up the soil layer on the hair making it easier to remove by means of vigorous combing while the hair is still wet with the vinegar.  Rinse and repeat the process as needed.  This type of vinegar rinse also works well at eliminating stubborn odours from horsehair.  Again, when finished with the vinegar rinse, following up with a good shampoo and conditioner is important to restore oils and softness to the hair. 
    A few things NOT to use;  Chlorine bleach is rarely effective and will turn your green stain yellow rather than removing it.  Hydrogen peroxide again is only limitedly effective and can make the hair brittle so it breaks when brushed.  Commercial hair bleaches sold at beauty stores are terrible, horsehair soaks up so much of these products that the hair can be left with an almost sticky sponge-like texture or brittle and dry like straw.